Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens

Pinjore Gardens (officially Yadavindra Gardens) sit 22 km from Chandigarh and are one of the finest surviving examples of a Mughal-style terraced garden in northern India. The garden was laid out in the 17th century by Fidai Khan, a foster-brother of Emperor Aurangzeb and a noted architect, on what was then the Sirmur royal estate. The Patiala royal family acquired the property in 1775 and renovated the garden under Maharaja Yadavindra Singh in the early 20th century — hence the modern name. The garden is laid out across seven descending terraces, each defined by a separate building: Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), Rang Mahal (Painted Palace), Jal Mahal (Water Palace), and the Mughal-built Open Air Theatre. Water cascades flow continuously from the top terrace to the bottom, fed by an underground water-supply system that is still partially original. The garden hosts the annual Pinjore Heritage Festival in mid-June with classical dance, music, and a craft bazaar. Easy day trip from Chandigarh; combine with the Bhima Devi Temple complex adjacent.